Billie Eilish has now issued a formal apology for using an anti-Asian slur in recently-surfaced video footage.
The video footage, which is making the rounds on TikTok, shows Billie Eilish using an anti-Asian slur while also appearing to imitate Asian immigrants. Specifically, Eilish uses the c-word while singing along with a Tyler, the Creator track. A separate clip shows Eilish speaking gibberish in a high-pitched voice that sounds like an imitation of an Asian immigrant accent (see below).
It’s unclear where the video, which is essentially a compilation of several smaller snippets, originated. In her apology, Eilish noted that she was ’13 or 14′ at the time and wasn’t familiar with the derogatory c-word. Additionally, she also claimed that she wasn’t making fun of Asian-immigrant accents, but was simply babbling. “It is absolute gibberish and just me goofing around, and is in NO way an imitation of anyone or any language, accent or culture in the SLIGHTEST,” Eilish clarified.
The video has drawn a wide range of reactions from fans. Some dismissed the clips as unimportant and overblown, while others called for the singer’s cancellation while branding her a racist.
Earlier today, Eilish addressed the videos in an Instagram post. Here’s the full apology.
I love you guys, and many of you have been asking me to address this. And this is something that I WANT to address because I’m being labeled something that I am not.
There’s a video edit going around of me when I was 13 or 14 where I mouthed a word from a song that at the time I didn’t know was a derogatory term and used against members of the Asian community. I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word. This song was the only time I’d ever heard that word as it was never used around me by anyone in my family. Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry.
The other video in that edited clip is me speaking in a silly gibberish made up voice… something I started doing as a kid and have done my whole life when talking to my pets, friends, and family. It is absolute gibberish and just me goofing around, and is in NO way an imitation of anyone or any language, accent or culture in the SLIGHTEST. Anyone who knows me has seen me goofing around with voices my whole life.
Regardless of how it was interpreted I did not mean for any of my actions to have caused hurt to others and it absolutely breaks my heart that it is being labeled now in a way that might cause pain to people hearing it. I not only believe in, but have always worked hard to use my platform to fight for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity and equality.
We all need to continue having conversations, listening and learning. I hear you and I love you. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
And here’s the video compilation.
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